Configurable adapter and narrow base socket meter for use in switchboard applications

ABSTRACT

The configurable adapter uses a relatively few components which allow it to be configured to have different heights to fit different switchboard cases. It includes a bracket designed to hold a particular type of meter or power monitor, with different brackets available to be assembled as a component of the configurable adapter. A new class of electricity revenue meters called a narrow base socket meter is described, and shown. The narrow base socket meter is adapted from a conventional socket meter which has a sufficiently narrow body by trimming its sides, top, and/or bottom, as necessary, to fit within the switchboard adapter, using a bracket which places the meter within the switchboard adapter so that its face can be flush with (or barely stick out from) the face of the switchboard. The adapter can also be used with standard socket base meters, which will stick out of the front of the switchboard panel, as well as with power monitoring devices by using suitable brackets, as described.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to electricity meters. In particular, thepresent invention relates to a configurable adapter and a new socketmounted electricity meter format, herein called a narrow base socketmeter which can be used to enable a narrow base meter to be used as aswitchboard meter, as well as to mount standard socket meters, alongwith power monitoring devices, all in several different sizes ofswitchboard cases.

As is known by those skilled in the electrical metering arts, socketmounted meters are used in numerous locations. As used herein, the term“narrow base socket meter” is intended to mean an electricity meterwhich is characterized by having (1) a conventional, industry standardsocket configuration; (2) a body which is narrower than a conventionalsocket mounted meter, such that it can fit into a cradle inside aswitchboard case; and (3) a cover which fits over the front of the meterand attaches to the switchboard case, rather than a conventionalcylindrical cover which attaches to the base of the meter. As usedherein, the term “narrow base socket” is intended to refer to a socketbase for an electricity revenue utility meter, which has a conventionalsocket configuration but which is otherwise narrower than a conventionalsocket meter base.

By way of example, a narrow base socket is shown in FIGS. 20-21 (atreference number 830) in U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,230 entitled ADAPTER FORCONVERTING A SWITCHBOARD CASE FOR USE WITH A SOCKET MOUNTED METER whichissued on Jul. 16, 2002 to the present inventor. The invention describedtherein allows a standard socket meter, rather than the narrow basesocket meter of the present invention, to be used in a switchboard case.However, due to the width of a standard socket meter, the meter and itscover extend out of the switchboard case, and only the meter's bayonetconnectors extend into the narrow base socket.

While a narrow base socket of the type described in that patent can beused, as described therein, with a standard meter, the fact that themeter extends out of the case is not desirable in some switchboardapplications. In many applications it would be more desirable to have anadapter which permits the use of a “standard” meter wherein the standardmeter, nevertheless, is substantially flush with the panel when mounted.

Another issue which has been present heretofore relates to the fact thatthere are a number of different types of switchboard cases, and thatthey come in different lengths, and different manufacturers make them indifferent configurations. Further, there are commercial applications inwhich metering devices, called “power monitors”, as contrasted toelectricity revenue meters, are used in switchboard applications.

Despite the desire to have a configurable solution which would alloweither standard or narrow base meters to be used in switchboardapplications, while allowing, also for power monitoring meters to beused, as well, without the associated need to maintain a large inventoryof adapters which are able to provide such flexibility and without theneed to use switchboard meters, until now, no such solution has existed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a configurable adapter and anarrow base socket meter for use therewith have been invented. Thenarrow base socket meter can be fitted into a switchboard case whichincludes a narrow base socket, whereby the face of the meter will besubstantially flat with respect to the switchboard. This is possibleusing the narrow base socket meter of the present invention, as it cansit within a standard switchboard case, having a narrow base socketinstalled therein.

Further, the present invention includes configurable components whichallow the use of commercially standard switchboard cases having avariety of different lengths and configurations, typically determined bytheir manufacturer, and, in addition to being useable with electricityrevenue meters the present invention can also be used with power monitordevices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing a portion of a switchboard onwhich the face of a narrow base socket meter, in accordance with thepresent invention, is shown along with power monitor mounted in theadapter of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a prospective view showing one configuration of the adapter ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a prospective view of the adapter of FIG. 2 illustrating theadapter with narrow meter base mounted therein;

FIG. 4 is a prospective view of the adapter of FIG. 3 with a narrow basesocket meter (without the cover, which is shown in FIG. 1) of thepresent invention mounted therein, and illustrating one configuration ofthe adapter;

FIG. 5 is a prospective view of the adapter of FIG. 3 with a narrow basesocket meter (without the cover, which is shown in FIG. 1) of thepresent invention mounted therein, and illustrating a longerconfiguration of the adapter than the one shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a prospective view of a power meter device bracket of the typewhich can be used with the adapter shown in FIG. 2, in order to mount apower monitor device, as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a prospective view of a meter socket bracket of the type whichcan be used with the adapter shown in FIG. 2, in order to mount a narrowbase socket meter, as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a prospective view of a meter socket bracket of the type whichcan be used with the adapter shown in FIG. 2, in order to mount a narrowbase socket, such that a standard socket meter can be mounted using thepresent adapter;

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the configurable adapter inwhich a power monitor device bracket of the type illustrated in FIG. 6is shown; and

FIG. 10 illustrates the embodiment of the configurable adapter and apower monitor device bracket, as shown in FIG. 9, but with the adapterconfigured for a longer switchboard case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIG. 1, the narrow base socket meter 10 of thepresent invention is shown mounted on a switchboard panel 12 in a firstembodiment of the configurable adapter of the present invention. Asillustrated, the cover 14 of the narrow base socket meter 10 is attached(using a screwable knob 16) to the underlying switchboard case (notshown) so as to provide a cover for the narrow base socket meter 10,whose face 18 is visible therethrough. The cover 14 includes a demandreset 20 and an optical port 22 of the types well known in theelectricity revenue metering field. With continued reference to FIG. 1,a power monitor device 24 is also mounted on the switchboard panel 14.As illustrated, a power monitor device cover 26 overlies and surroundsthe power monitor device 24. While the power monitor device cover 26 issimilar in configuration to the meter cover 14, it is configured to forman escutcheon around the face of the power monitor device 24 rather thanto act as the face of the power monitor device 24. The power monitordevice cover 26 has an opening 28 through which the controls 30 of thepower monitor device 24 may be accessed.

Thus, the present invention can be configured to have a cover 14 whichis a functional portion of the metering equipment, as is the narrow basesocket meter cover 14, or it can have a power monitor device cover 26which includes an opening 28, such that it provides a cosmetic benefitwhile closing off access to the underlying switchboard case, as shownwith respect to the power monitor device cover 26. In either situation,the metering device or monitor can be mounted so that it issubstantially flush with the switchboard panel 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a first embodiment of the configurable adapter32 and narrow base meter of the present invention is shown. The adapter32 is substantially similar to the switchboard cage described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,421,230, referenced above, and incorporated by referenceherein, except that the adapter 32 has been improved in design so thatit is configurable for use with switchboard cases having differentheights. Further, the adapter 32 can be used with different brackets, asdescribed hereinafter, so that it may be used with either standardmeters having standard (round) bases, narrow base socket meters, orpower monitoring devices. Thus, the configurable nature of the adapter32 allows it to be used in switchboard cradles having different heights,and it can be used with different types and configurations of metering(or monitoring) devices.

In particular, the adapter 32 was designed to be assembled using screws34 to connect a lower portion 36 to an upper portion 38 such that theoverall height of the adapter 32 can be varied (See, FIG. 5), asappropriate, whereby the adapter 32 is configurable to fit into avariety of switchboard cradles having different heights. In thepreferred embodiment of the adapter 32, this is accomplished by having aseries of screw holes 40 in the upper portion, while the lower portionhas a series of so-called PEM nuts 42, which are self-clinching nutsfrom PennEngineering Fastening Technologies, 5190 Old Easton Road,Danboro, Pa. 18916, to which the screws 34 attach. As shown in FIG. 2,the PEM nuts 42 may be installed in the lower portion 36 of the adapter32 only in those openings which will be used when the adapter 32 isassembled.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the adapter 32 is shown with a narrow socketbase 44, the same being a part of the narrow base socket meter 10 of thepresent invention. As shown, the narrow socket base 44 is mounted to theupper portion 38 of the adapter 32 using a bracket 46. As used herein,the term “narrow base socket meter” is intended to refer to a socketmeter which has a base whose width is narrower than the base of astandard socket meter, and which is narrow enough to be mounted withinthe sides of the adapter 32 the while having the same bayonetconnections as a standard socket meter. Accordingly, the body of thenarrow base socket meter of the present invention is capable of beingmounted in a standard meter socket of the type used by a standard socketmeter. As is well known in the art, standard socket meter bases havesubstantially round bases. As shown in FIG. 3, the narrow socket meterbase 44 which is used in the present invention differs from a standardsocket meter base in that it is narrower than a standard socket meter inthat its sides are cut off substantially parallel to one another alongchords of the circular base. Such “narrow base sockets” were previouslydescribed by the present inventor in U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,230. However,in that patent the base was mounted at the front of the adapter so thata conventional socket meter (which would then extend out from aswitchboard panel) could be mounted in it. In accordance with thepresent invention, the narrow socket meter base 44 is mounted at therear of the adapter 32, as the body of the narrow socket meter of thepresent invention is narrow enough to slide into the adapter 32 eventhough the narrow socket meter has a contact configuration which is thesame as that of a conventional meter.

In order to mount the narrow meter socket base 44 a bracket 46, designedto receive the narrow socket base 44 is attached to the upper portion 38of the adapter 32. As will be further explained below, the bracket 46 isan integral part of the present invention, as a set of brackets allowsthe same adapter (which can be configured for height, as alreadyexplained) to be further configured to hold either a meter socket base44 or a power monitor device, as will be shown, or such other devices asmay be desired.

With reference to FIG. 4, the narrow base socket meter 10 is able to bemounted with its cover 14 flush the switchboard panel 12 (See FIG. 1),because the narrow base socket meter 10 has a narrow meter body 50,which is narrow enough to be mounted within the adapter 32. The narrowbase socket meter 10 of the present invention was created by the presentinventor who realized that a commercially available electronic meter,namely, the Schlumberger Sentinel Multifunction Meter was being builtwith a conventional round base for use with conventional meter sockets.Nevertheless, the Sentinel, and other suitable meters which may beavailable or which may become available, have a body configurationwhich, but for their round bases and cylindrical covers, could otherwisefit within a switchboard case to form a narrow base meter 10, as shownin FIG. 1. The inventor realized that if the meter body could fit withinthe adapter 32, and the sides of the meter's base could also be trimmedto fit, there was no reason that a conventional, commercially availablemeter could not be modified such that it would fit the narrow meter base44, even with the narrow meter base 44 mounted at the rear of theadapter 32. By so modifying the meter body, and trimming the sides 52 ofthe base 54 such that the sides 52 fit within the adapter 32 so that themeter 10 could be set into the adapter 32, whereby it would be withinthe switchboard, rather than sticking out of the front of theswitchboard, as did the conventional meters used with the previouslydescribed adapters as described in the inventor's other patents.

With further reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the meter 10, differs fromconventional meters in that the sides 52 of the base 54 aresubstantially parallel to one another, so the meter base 54 is no longerround. While this may mean that the sides of the base must be cut, itcan also mean that the top and/or bottom of the meter must also be cutdown in size. This means that a conventional, substantially cylindricalcover cannot be used with the narrow base meter 10. Accordingly, thecover 14 (See FIG. 1) has been designed to replace the conventionalmeter covers previously known. As such, the meter cover 14 includesaccess to the reset and optical ports of the meter 10, as explainedabove, and the cover 14 includes a transparent portion which permitsallows the face 56 of the meter 10 to be viewed through the cover 14.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an alternative configuration of the adapter 32,with respect to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, is shown. Inparticular, the adapter 32 shown in FIG. 5 has been configured to be thesame as is shown in FIG. 4, except that the lower and upper portions 38,36 were assembled to make the overall adapter 32 longer so that the samecomponents can be used in a taller switchboard case. Thus, withoutchanging anything other than the placement of the screws on the adapter32, the same adapter 32 can be used in switchboard cases havin gdifferent heights. This is an important feature of the presentinvention, as it means that far fewer parts are required to bemanufactured to meet a variety of needs. As will be further explainedhereinafter, the modular nature of the present invention furtherfacilitates configuration whereby devices, other than the narrow socketmeter body 50 can be used. As will be recognized by those skilled in theart, it will, of course, be necessary to provide a suitable cover ineach application, although the cover designs are also modular in thatdifferent types of adapters (e.g., designed for different types ofswitchboard cradles) can be interchanged based only on the requiredapplication and case height, as will be further discussed below.

Referring now to FIG. 6, another feature which makes the presentinvention configurable is illustrated. In particular, the adapter 32 hasbeen designed not only to act as a switchboard cradle for use with anelectricity meter, as described above and in the earlier patents of thepresent inventor, but it has also been designed to be adaptable for usewith industrial power monitoring devices, such as the power monitor 24shown in FIG. 1, which are also often switchboard mounted. In order toconfigure the adapter 32 for use with different devices, the presentinvention uses brackets. Thus, with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, anarrow base socket bracket 46 was shown, in that the adapter 32 wasconfigured to hold the narrow base socket meter 10 of the presentinvention, as shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, the narrowbase socket bracket 46 mounts at the rear of the adapter 32, such that anarrow base socket 44 can be mounted to receive the narrow base meterbody 50, as shown in FIG. 5. In order to configure the adapter 32 foruse with a power monitor 24 (FIG. 1), the bracket 60 has been designedto attach to the adapter 32, using screws in the same holes aspreviously described. As shown, the bracket 60 includes number of screwholes 62 which allow it to be assembled to the adapter 32. The powermonitoring device bracket 60 has an opening 64 which exposes the powermeter 24, which may actually extend therethrough (See FIG. 1). It alsohas a number of additional openings 66, 68 which can provide access to amounted power meter. As will be understood, unlike the narrow basesocket bracket 46, which was mounted to the rear of the adapter 32, thepower monitor device bracket 60 is mounted so that the face of the powermonitor device 24 will be toward the front of the adapter 32.

As shown in FIG. 7, the narrow base socket bracket 46 which waspreviously described with reference to FIGS. 3-5 and 6 has a number ofscrew holes 72 which allow it to be assembled to the adapter 32. Thenarrow base socket bracket 46 is configured such that it has the PEMnuts 74 on the inside of the bracket 46 for mounting to the upperportion 38 of the adapter 32, while the screw openings 72 are on theside of the bracket 46 which will be adjacent the upper portion 38 ofthe adapter 32 and the rear of the narrow base socket 46.

Referring, now, to FIG. 8, a standard socket meter bracket 80 can alsobe used with the adapter 32. The standard socket meter bracket 80 issimilar to the narrow base meter bracket 46, except that it will bemounted toward the front of the switchboard case, thereby bringing themeter socket forward such that only the bayonet connectors of a standardsocket meter will extend into the socket (a narrow base socket whichfits inside the meter case, as heretofore described in U.S. Pat. No.6,421,230). Accordingly, the legs 82 have a length which will bring thenarrow base socket (not shown) suitably close to the front of the case,as illustrated in the inventor's earlier patent. The screw openings 84which are used to attach the meter socket are the same as in the bracket46, but the placement of the PEM nuts 86 will be changed so that themeter socket can be mounted to the front of the case when it isinstalled.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, another embodiment 90 of the presentinvention is illustrated. As shown therein, the adapter 90 differs fromthe adapter 32 heretofore described so that it can be used withswitchboard cases of another manufacturer. As with the adapter 32, theadapter 90 was designed so that it can be used with switchboard cases ofdifferent heights. However, the adapter 90 accomplishes that in a mannerdifferent from the adapter 32, in that the adapter 90 is comprised ofthree components, namely an upper portion 92, a lower portion 94, and amiddle insert 96. With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, it will beunderstood that length of the middle insert 96 provides yet anothermeans by which the height of the configurable adapter 90 of the presentinvention can be changed, although those skilled in the art willrecognize that there exist many more ways to accomplish the same result,e.g., by using a screw and slot arrangement, as described heretofore bythe present inventor in his other patents, namely, U.S. Pat. No.6,104,601 entitled PANEL ADAPTER FOR A SOCKET MOUNTED ELECTRICITY METER,which issued Aug. 15, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,956 entitled SURFACEMOUNTED PANEL ADAPTER FOR A SOCKET MOUNTED ELECTRICITY METER, whichissued Jul. 10, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,230 entitled ADAPTER FORCONVERTING A SWITCHBOARD CASE FOR USE WITH A SOCKET MOUNTED ELECTRICITYMETER, which issued Jul. 16, 2002; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,498,717 entitledSURFACE MOUNTED PANEL ADAPTER FOR A SOCKET MOUNTED ELECTRICITY METER,which issued on Dec. 24, 2002, all of which are incorporated herein byreference.

With continued reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the adapter 90 is shown witha power monitor bracket 98, as shown in FIG. 6, mounted to it usingscrews 100 which attach to the middle insert 96 of the adapter 90 (See,also, openings 48 formed in the adapter 32 as illustrated, but not used,in FIG. 3).

As will now be recognized by those skilled in the art, the presentinvention is a fully configurable (meaning in both height adjustment andmeter type) adapter for use in switchboard applications. Further, bymodifying commercially available socket meters which have sufficientlynarrow bases, such that the meter body can be fitted within theswitchboard case a new “narrow socket meter” has been designed in whichthe new meter is mounted substantially flush with a switchboard panel.

Further, different designs have been shown for use with differentswitchboard cases manufactured by different manufacturers, with bothheight adaptation, and device adaptation (using different brackets).Thus, by using relatively few interchangeable components, the adapter ofthe present invention can be used in well over one hundred

1. An adapter for mounting a metering device in a switchboard case, said adapter comprising: (a) a body comprising an upper portion and a lower portion; (b) means for connecting and selectively spacing said upper portion relative to said lower portion; (c) a bracket for mounting said metering device, said bracket being adapted to be attached to said body, said bracket being configured to hold a particular type of metering device, whereby said adapter can be used to hold electricity meters and power monitors within switchboard cases having different heights.
 2. The adapter of claim 1 in which said means for connecting and selectively spacing comprises different screw holes in said upper portion and said lower portion, whereby said upper portion can be assembled to said lower portion in a number of different configurations each having different heights.
 3. The adapter of claim 1 in which said means for connecting and selectively spacing comprises a middle insert, said middle insert being configured to fit between said upper portion and said lower portion and to attach at a proximal end to said upper portion and at a distal end to said lower portion, whereby the overall height of said adapter is determined by the combined heights of said upper portion, said lower portion, and said middle insert.
 4. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said bracket is adapted to hold a narrow base socket and wherein said bracket has legs which have a length which brings said narrow base socket to the front of said adapter when said adapter is mounted in a switchboard case, whereby a standard socket base meter can be mounted in said narrow base socket when said adapter is installed in a switchboard case.
 5. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said bracket is adapted to hold a power monitor and wherein said bracket has legs which have a length which brings the front of said power monitor to the front of said switchboard panel when said adapter is installed in a switchboard case.
 6. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said bracket is adapted to hold a narrow base socket and wherein said bracket has legs which have a length which brings said narrow base socket to the rear of said adapter whereby the base of a socket base meter having a body which is narrow enough to fit within said case can be can be mounted in said narrow base socket when said adapter is installed in a switchboard case.
 7. A narrow socket base meter for switchboard applications comprising: (a) the adapter of claim 6; and (b) a meter body which is sufficiently narrow to be fitted within said adapter, and mounted in said narrow base socket; and (c) a substantially rectangular cover which attaches to said adapter, said cover providing both viewing means whereby the face of said meter can be seen, and means for operating the controls of said meter.
 8. The narrow base meter of claim 7 wherein said meter has a standard bayonet configuration and a base which is narrow enough to fit within said narrow base socket.
 9. The narrow base meter of claim 7 wherein said viewing means is comprised of a substantially transparent material.
 10. The narrow base meter of claim 9 wherein said substantially transparent material is selected from the group consisting of glass, plastics, and polycarbonates.
 11. The narrow base meter of claim 10 wherein said means for operating the controls includes means for electronically reading the meter.
 12. The narrow base meter of claim 11 wherein said means for electronically reading the meter comprises an optical port.
 13. The narrow base meter of claim 10 wherein said means for operating the controls includes means for performing a manual reset of the meter. 